Tones in Northeast Indian languages, with a focus on Tani: A fieldworker's guide

Abstract

This chapter is about the tone systems found in many Northeast Indian languages, with a special focus on the Tani branch of Trans-Himalayan [Tibeto-Burman]. It is aimed primarily at fieldworkers who are beginning research on a Northeast Indian tone language, and need a way of quickly contextualizing their work and of developing ideas and techniques that may help to make sense of their data. That said, there should also be enough information here to give typologists or anyone else with an interest in the tone systems of Northeast Indian languages some material to work with. It thus takes two important cues from Burling's recent research on Bodo-Garo languages: one, Rob's determination to continue working on, and publishing on, the tone systems of North East Indian languages despite the many analytical challenges these languages have posed to him and other researchers; two, Rob's impatience with the ivory towers of international academia, and his determination to produce materials which are of value to a broad range of people, in particular students and language communities. Although the present chapter represents only a tiny step forward in terms of the understanding of its subject matter, I hope it will at least pass those two Burling Tests.